Surgical splint



June 20, 1933. Q p, JONES 1,914,691

SURGICAL SPLINT Filed May 134, 1952 s IN1/ENTOR 12 M )ym 8 i BY 11?;y 'g2 121 25 2v TTORNEYS Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES CARL I. JONES, F GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA SURGICAL srmn'r Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to surgical splints, particularly for fractures of the forearm:

The object of the invention is to provide for the reliable and efficient exercise of traction to set and hold the bones together and otherwise to adjust them to perfect position while maintaining traction.

To this end7 the invention consists in a splint comprising a body member or stock; meansfor anchoring the stock at one end toa flexed arm of the patient above the elbow 1n position to extend at an angle therefrom substantially parallel with the forearm; means adjustably carried by the other end of the stock anchored to the forearm below the fracture, for applying and maintaining tractlon; and other means carried by the stock for effecting the various necessary lateral and angular adjustments while maintaining traction.

In the drawing, 1 have shown the splint in its preferred form, though it is to be understood that changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the splint.

Fig. 2 is a plan view. I

Fig. 3 is a section, enlarged, on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

F ig. 4 is a. section, enlarged, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view of the splint showing it applied to the bent arm of the patient.

I yIhe body or stock member of the splint is a bar 1, which at one vend is associated with an arcuate anchor member 2. The association of these two members is an adjustable one comprising a guide 3 projecting from the anchor member, and a slide 4 on the stock member, the adjustment being made by a screw 5. The stock 1 at its other end has a longitudinally directed guide 6, in which is slidably fitted by its head 7 a bracket 8 at right angles to the stock, and having a movement lengthwise of said stock by means of a screw 9. The bracket 8 has a guide 10 in which is slidably fitted by its head 11 a lug 12 which has a movement lengthwise of the bracket, by means of a screw 13. The lug 12 comprises one member of a swivel bearing,

1932. Serial No. 611,046.

F ig. 4, formed by a conical socket 14 in its face, and a conical head 15 of a shank 16 carrying a hand grip member 17, which thus has a rotary adjustment relatively to the lug. This adjustment is controlled by means of a nut 18 on the threaded end 19 of the shank 1G, as seen best in F ig. 4.

Referring vnow to Fig. 5, the application of the splint l-will be understood. 2O is the arm and 21 the hand'of the patient. The arm is flexed at the elbow; and a cast 22 which initially envelops said arm from a point above the elbow to and including the hand, is cut out at 23 to expose the region of the fracture.

In the cast above the elbow is incorporated the anchor ymember 2, and in the cast enveloping the hand is incorporated the hand grip 417, the hand of the patient having been ca-used to grasp it.

Inorderto assist in securing proper alignment of the bones on either side of the fracture, an adjustable pressure member 24 is provided, which is adapted to bear against the inside of the forearm. rifhis pressure member has'a stem 25 which is adjustably secured by a set screw 26 in a bracket 27, said bracket "being longitudinally adjust-able in a slot28 in the stock 1. A clamping screw 29 holds said bracket in adjusted position upon said stock.

It will now be seen that the rigid stock member 1 of the splint lies parallel with the patients forearm, .and is firmly anchored to the upper arm which offers efcient and reliable resistance to the traction necessary to place and hold the bones together', which traction is the result of the pull on the hand end of the forearm due to the outward adjustment of the bracket 8 by the screw 9. Such lateral adjustments as may be necessary are effected in planes at right angles by the screws 5 and 13 respectively; rotative angular adjustment is possible by means of the swivel joint 14, 15, controlled by the nut 18; and if necessary, alignment of the fractured bone or bones is secured by longitudinal and lateral positioning of the pressure member 24.

It will be noted that the bending of the injured arm at the elbow affords an anchorage capable of positive compression resistance to traction, in that the angular' elbow joint crossed by the cast 22 prevents any tendency of the anchorage to slip, and also affords opportunity for the distinctive positioning of the splint in that its anchorage above the elbow presents the plane of compression resistance at substantially right angles to the line of traction, so that the stock of the splint crosses the plane of arm fleXure.

I claim 1. A surgical splint for forearm fractures comprising a stock; means for anchoring one end of said stock to a patients flexed arm above the elbow in position extending at an angle therefrom, and substantially parallel with the forearm a bracket adjustable lengthwise upon the other end of said stock; a screw seated in said last named stock end to adjust said bracket; means for ixedly anchoring said bracket to the forearm below the fracture; a hand grip connected with the bracket; means carried by the stock for effecting lateral and angular adjustments of said hand grip, comprising a sliding screw-operated joint; and an angularly controllable joint in said grip and bracket connection.

2. A surgical splint for forearm fractures comprising a stock; a cast upon a patients flexed arm from a line above the elbow to and including the forearm and hand, said ast being cut out to expose the fracture area.; means for anchoring one end of the stock in the cast above the elbow in position to eX- tend angularly therefrom and substantially parallel with the forearm; a bracket adjustable lengthwise upon the other end of said stock; a screw seated in said last named stock end to adjust said bracket; a hand grip connected with the bracket and anchored in the cast about the hand; and means carried by the stock for effecting lateral and anguliu` adjustments7 comprising a screw operated slide joint in the iirst named end of the stock, and a sliding screw-operated joint and an singularly controllable joint in said grip and bracket connection.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CARL P. JONES. 

